A blog providing news, analysis, insight, and commentary on the war in Afghanistan.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Afghan Security News

Photo Credit. An instructor from the Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF) provides instruction to a member of the Afghan Local Police (ALP). (DVIDS photo).ALP 1st Line of Defense Against IS-KP. The Afghan Local Police (ALP) has been established in many districts in 31 of 34 Afghan provinces. The ALP in Achin district, Nangarhar province is the first line of defense against the Taliban and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP). Read more in "Afghan Local Police, Controversial Force That Fill Security Gap", Voice of America, November 20, 2017.ANA Territorial Force. Afghan warlords and strongmen are already beginning to try and influence the planned 'territorial force' that the U.S. and Afghan government are thinking to establish. The Afghan National Army Territorial Force, in some ways, will be similar to the Afghan Local Police. The Afghan National Army Territorial Force (ANATF) will likely be self-defense units of locally-recruited men serving in their own communities. Read more in "UN concerned by controversial US plan to revive Afghan militias", The Guardian, November 19, 2017.

Tide Could Turn? Optimistic Statements by RS HQs Cdr. U.S. General John Nicolson recently stated that the tide will soon turn against the Taliban. He believes the ANDSF is getting better, will take the fight to the enemy in 2018, and that the Taliban will be forced to the bargaining table. Nicholson is interviewed by Radio Free Europe, November 10, 2017.

Dozens Freed from Taliban Prison. Afghan officials said that up to 30 people were rescued from a Taliban prison in the southern province of Helmand on Sunday, November 19th. Among those rescued were two police officers and four children under the age of 12. See "Raid on Taliban Prison Reportedly Frees Dozens in Afghanistan", Radio Free Europe, November 19, 2017.